Czech Republic tightens security after Brussels attacks

Prague, March 23 (IANS) The Czech Republic has raised its terror threat alert level from zero to one following the terror attacks in Brussels, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said.

Chovanec said on Tuesday that Czech authorities have no information about any terrorist attack threatening the country at present but they have deployed additional hundreds of police officers to reinforce the patrols and the military personnel will also be deployed, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Chovanec, the increased security measures apply to all international airports, cover selected buildings and metro. He said these measures may be further expanded, they will discuss the possibility to increase checks at Czech borders during Tuesday night’s meeting.

Chovanec made the remarks at a press conference after talks with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, and representatives of intelligence services and police.

The terror threat alert system approved by Czech government earlier in 2016 has four degrees from zero to three. In emergency situations, the increase of alert degree could be announced by the interior minister but must be confirmed by the Cabinet within a week.

The first degree is marked with a yellow triangle and points to the existence of a general threat of terrorism. Similar security measures were introduced in the Czech Republic after the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015.

In Tuesday’s attacks, which occurred at the Belgian capital’s airport and at the Maalbeek metro station, at least 34 people were killed and hundreds injured.